Friday, October 30, 2015

Here is a quartet of female adventurers from Reaper Bones plastic. Below, a female paladin and wizard, both ready for some Frostgrave action.

The caster is from Bones I, and the problem with indistinct facial details are particularly noticeable on that figure. The severity may vary from figure to figure, but it has improved on the most recent Bones release.

Below, the two female adventurers from the Dragons Don't Share set. Fine details on the face and clothing are noticeably better here.

The two face off against a Warg, also from Reaper Bones. The terrain tiles are by Acheson Creations. Cast in a hard plastic, they paint up very nicely and will work in a variety of situations. Check for updates later.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

I completed six more of Oathsworn's Burrows and Badgers miniatures last week. These figures were my favorite acquisition of 2015 to this point.

Anthropomorphic has suffered a bit because of the whole "furry" thing, but nonetheless, I am a fan Oathsworn's product. Their aesthetic is favors the animal rather than human form, matching the look of Disney's Robin Hood or the Redwall series.

The sculpts and castings are very clean; like great animation, Oathsworn's designs are built from bold lines and dynamic composition, rather than over-elaborate details and ridiculous poses.

HENGEYOKAI

Hengeyokai are intelligent, shape-shifting animals. The ability to change is natural to hengeyokai. The are not lycanthropes and do not have the weakness and resistances of lycanthropes. In a sense, Hengeyokai are animals who become human, rather than humans who become animals.

Hengeyokai have three forms that they can assume. The first is a normal animal of their type, the second is a bipedal animal and the third is a human form. In human form, the hengeyokai retains some characteristic of their animal form. A hengeyokai crane for example, might be exceptionally long-legged. A hengeyokai rat might have a long nose. Their bipedal form is their most natural

Hengeyokai typically do not have their own kingdoms and settlements, and live in a variety of places depending on their type. Rats might live in the lower reaches and poorer parts of cities, while monkeys might be found as hermits in a forest. Humans are generally suspicious of hengeyokai, even those that they know to be traditionally good.

HENGEYOKAI TRAITS

Your Hengeyokai character has a variety of characteristics in common with all other Hengeyokai, and other traits based on your animal type.

Age. Hengeyokai mature at the same rate as humans and have roughly the same lifespans with some variations among animal types.

Size. In human form, hengeyokai are Medium.

Alignment. The majority of Hengeyokai are chaotic or neutral. Certain animal types have a tendency to good or evil, and this might form an important part of your background.

Speed. Your base walking speed in human form is 30 feet.

Type. You are of the Monstrosity type.

Darkvision. In animal and bipedal form, you have superior vision in the dark. You can see in dim light within 60 feet as if you were in bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You cannot identify color in the darkness, only shades of grey. In human form, you lack darkvision.

Attracts Suspicion. In bipedal form, all Charisma checks with humans are made at a disadvantage.

Languages. You can speak, read and write Hengeyokai, Common and Spirit Folk. In animal form, you can understand any language you already know, though you can only speak in hengeyokai. In bipedal form, you can speak any language you know, including human and animal languages. In human form, you cannot speak to animals but can understand their communication.

Shifting. As an action, you may shift into a different form. This ability is limited, however. The number of times a hengeyokai can change forms in one day equals his class level. A first level character who is a hengeyokai can change from human to animal form on one day, and must remain in that form until the next day. He could then change into the human or bipedal form. Changing requires one complete round during which a hengeyokai must maintain concentration. Armor, clothing and equipment do not change with the hengeyokai, although most are retained and usable in the human and bipedal forms.

Animal Form. When in animal form, a hengeyokai is virtually indistinguishable from a normal animal. Since the form is natural and not an illusion, spells that reveal illusions will not detect a hengeyokai. In animal form, hengeyokai cannot wear armor or use weapons. Hengeyokai spell casters cannot cast any spells while in animal form.

The hengeyokai has fewer hit points while in animal form than in either of his other forms. In animal form, the hengeyokai only has half their current hit points (rounded up). Hit points lost in one form are carried over to another form. For example, a hengeyokai with 25 hit points in human form will have 13 in animal form. If the character is wounded and loses 5 hit points, he will have 20 upon returning to human or bipedal form.

When a hengeyokai reaches 0 hit points in any form, they must make death saving throws as per the PH. Shifting to another form will not regain hit points in such a state.

Bipedal Form. In this form, the hengeyokai appears as a humanoid animal. He stands on hind legs at roughly the same height as his human form. The front paws (or wings, fins, etc.) change into hands capable of gripping and using equipment. The rest of the body retains the general shape and appearance of the animal, including fur, feathers, tail and other characteristic features.

Creature

Attack/Damage

AC

Move

Ability Scores

Carp

-

Swim 30

+2 WI, +1 CON

Cat

1-3/slashing

12

Move 40, Climb 30

+2 DEX, +1 CHR

Crab

1-3

11

Move 20, Swim 20

+2 STR, +1 CON

Crane

-

Move 10, Fly 40

+2 WIS, +1 CHR

Dog

1-3/piercing

12

Move 40

+2 CON, +1 STR

Drake

-

Move 20, Fly 40, Swim 20

+2 CHR, +1 CON

Fox

bite, +1 to hit (1d4-1) piercing

12

Move 40

+2 INT, +1 CHR

Hare

12

Move 40

+2 WIS, +1 DEX

Monkey

bite, +1 to hit (1d4-1) piercing

12

Move 30, Climb 30

+2 DEX, +1 INT

Raccoon Dog

bite, +2 to hit (1d4-1) piercing

10

Move 20, Climb 20

+2 STR, +1 DEX

Rat

bite, +0 to hit, 1 piercing

10

Move 20

+2 CON, +1 INT

Sparrow

+3 to hit, 1 piercing

12

Move 10, Fly 40

+2 CHR, +1 DEX

Damage. Listings are given for animals with natural weapons (teeth or claws). Natural weapons can only be used when the hengeyokai is in animal form, now when the character is in human or bipedal form.

Armor Class (AC) only applies to the animal form, not to the bipedal or human form. It cannot be increased by armor or shields.

Move indicates the character’s speed in animal form and the types

Modifications indicates the changes to a character’s ability scores based on the type of creature chosen.

Hare. In animal and bipedal form, the hengeyokai has Advantage on Perception checks that involve hearing.

Monkey. In animal and bipedal form, the hengeyokai has a prehensile tail that can manipulate and lift small object. It cannot be used to directly attack.

Raccoon Dog. In animal and bipedal form, the hengeyokai has Advantage on perception checks that rely on smell.

Rat. In animal and bipedal form, the hengeyokai has advantage on perception (smell) checks.

Sparrow. In bipedal and human form, the hengeyokai is proficient in Musical Instrument (Voice). In both bipedal and human form, their tendency is to be a Small size.